The conference is organized on the theme, '3R as an Economic Industry - Next Generation 3R Solutions for a Resource-Efficient Society and Sustainable Tourism Development in Asia and the Pacific'. It will focus on water security, tourism, waste management and sustainable urban management. The conference is jointly organized by the Governments of Japan and Maldives, and the UN Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD). Participants include high-level government representatives from Asia-Pacific countries, city mayors and other professionals. Delegates will discuss implementation of Ha Noi 3R Declaration (2013-2023), as well as economic and employment opportunities in 3R areas, especially in the context of the post-2015 development agenda. The draft concept note and provisional programme for the conference are available.

International Conference on Sustainable Uses of Soil in Harmony with Food Security

This conference will focus on five themes: soil information for supporting sustainable uses and management; integrated soil management and conservation for food security; role of soil ecology in relation to climate change and food security; innovative techniques and tools for soil resources inventories and appropriate management; and public participation, networking and policy implementation on land management. The conference, which is organized under the auspices of the International Year of Soils (IYS) 2015 and the Thailand Land Development Department's ‘Volunteer Soil-Doctor Program' aims to provide a platform for diverse stakeholders, including soil scientists, field-based extension workers, decision makers and land users, to share knowledge on appropriate technologies and soil management practices to enhance food security and conservation of the natural resource base.

This is the second edition of the annual Wageningen Soil Conferences, which aim to explore the role of soil science in combating and mitigating global challenges, including food security, water resources, climate change, land functions and biodiversity conservation. The Conferences takes a thematic, interdisciplinary approach that seeks to provide a platform for: sharing knowledge of soils 'across the world and across science'; engaging in interdisciplinary exchanges of ideas, thoughts, and opinions; and "thinking out of the box". The 2015 conference is organized under the auspices of the International Year of Soils. In addition to keynote presentations and interactive discussions, the conference will explore the core themes in workshops and master classes.

September 2015

World Symposium on Climate Change Adaption

With a focus on "innovative approaches to implement climate change adaptation," the World Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation (WSCCA-2015) will aim to: provide researchers, civil society and firms from around the world an opportunity to present their work on adaptation; foster the exchange of information, good practice, ideas, experiences and successes acquired in executing adaptation projects; discuss methodological approaches derived from case studies and projects; and provide an opportunity for participants to explore possibilities for cooperation. It will also document and disseminate the existing body of knowledge and experiences on climate change through a book titled 'Innovative Approaches to Implement Climate Change Adaptation' and through a special issue of 'International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management'. Among the event's organizers are the International Climate Change Information Programme (ICCIP), the UN University (UNU) Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Under the theme, 'Democratizing Global Climate Change Governance and Building an African Consensus toward COP 21 and Beyond,' the Africa Climate Talks (ACT!) are being organized by the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Programme. This series of interconnected sub-regional and Africa-wide events will contribute to Africa's preparation for the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC, engaging Africans from all walks of life. ACT! aims to raise public awareness of climate change, hear perspectives of linkages between climate change issues and Africa's development, and consider the potential implications of COP 21 outcomes for Africa. ACT! for the East and Southern Africa regions and the Indian Ocean small island developing States (SIDS) will take place in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 3-5 September 2015. ClimDev-Africa is a joint Programme of the African Union Commission (AUC), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The 2015 World Forestry Congress, the first to be held in Africa, will come together under the theme, ‘Forests and People – Investing in a sustainable future'. The Congress, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the government of South Africa, will consider how forests can be mainstreamed into global discussions on sustainable development and will facilitate the development of partnerships to address global forestry issues.

At the margins of the XIV World Forestry Congress (WFC), this dialogue will convene under the theme, 'Forests USE water! And forest ecosystems PROVIDE water!' and focus on the links between water and forests including trade-offs and synergies between water yield and other forest ecosystem services. In addition, a five-year action plan will be launched to support and increase coordinated international and national action on forest-water linkages in science, policy, economics and forest practices. Participants will be able to actively contribute to the debate and to the five-year plan. The dialogue will be hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), which is calling for abstracts, videos and posters.

Working Group Meeting of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC)

The Working Group meeting of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) will take place from 2-3 September 2015. CCAC, hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), is a voluntary international coalition of partners focusing on addressing SLCPs in order to protect the environment and public health, promote food and energy security, and address near-term climate change. CCAC partners include governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The CCAC is a partner-led effort and aims to reduce emissions of methane, black carbon, and many hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in order to protect the environment and public health, promote food and energy security, and address near-term climate change. The CCAC Working Group oversees the CCAC's cooperative actions.

The Standing Committee on Finance (SCF), established by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC, is mandated with improving coherence and coordination in the delivery of climate change financing, rationalizing the financial mechanism, mobilizing financial resources, and measuring, reporting and verifying (MRV) of support provided to developing country parties. After establishing the SCF, the COP requested that it organize a forum for the communication and continued exchange of information among bodies and entities dealing with climate change finance, in order to promote linkages and coherence. The third SCF Forum will focus on issues related to finance for forests and will be held in conjunction with the Fourteenth World Forestry Congress, in partnership with FAO. The SCF has also been addressing coherence and coordination in forests-related financing during its regular Committee meetings.

This one-day Wildlife Forum, organized by the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW) during the World Forestry Congress (WFC), will address challenges and opportunities in sustainable wildlife management, highlighting the experiences of countries, organizations, indigenous peoples, local communities and the private sector in addressing poverty alleviation and livelihood security issues while protecting wildlife.

The International Day of South-South Cooperation commemorates the adoption of the 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries. The annual day also aims to raise awareness on South-South cooperation as an important element for development that offers opportunities for developing countries and countries with economies in transition to pursue sustainable development and economic growth.

The Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) was established at the first Plenary Assembly of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) to provide scientific and technical advice and guidance on global soil issues to the GSP primarily, and to specific requests submitted by global or regional institutions. The ITPS also advocates for addressing sustainable soil management in the different sustainable development agendas.

The 70th Regular Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 70) is scheduled to open at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 15 September 2015. On 25 September 2015, His Holiness Pope Francis will address the UNGA, and from 25-27 September the Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda will convene. The General Debate of the 70th Session of the UNGA will take place from 28 September - 6 October 2015.

This forum is being organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to highlight the results achieved thus far through partnerships between ICAO, governments and other organizations that are focused on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international aviation. These include in particular, progress made through the ICAO State Action Plans capacity building and assistance strategy. The seminar will cover current and potential action in the following areas: aircraft technology and research programmes; recycling of aircraft; next generation air navigation and green operations; sustainable alternative fuels and renewable energy; financing for aviation environmental activities; and carbon markets. Initiatives formed as a result of the seminar will be presented to the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC at its 21st session in December 2015.

This International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) conference, which is organized under the auspices of the International Year of Soils 2015 and the 350th Anniversary of the Christian Albrechts University, will address the broad question: 'Do we underestimate the consequences of new disequilibria in soil properties?'. Titled SUSTAIN, the conference aims to increase understanding of how interactions among physical, chemical and biological soil processes under different land-use systems and climate conditions will alter soil properties. One of the goals of the conference is to define "the boundary conditions for reliable predictions in a changing environment," by exploring prediction model input parameters that can enable a reliable analysis of soil and environmental properties and functions. Specific topics to be covered include: soil structure and pore rigidity effects as prerequisites for quantification of physico-chemical processes; effects of pore rigidity and soil resilience on physical, chemical and biological soil properties and functions; feedback mechanisms between soil structure formation and plant growth, groundwater and atmosphere; and innovative modeling approaches to predict how climate change affects sinks and sources of atmospheric carbon.

The UN Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda was mandated by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2013 (Resolution 68/6). The Summit will take place on 25-27 September 2015, and will be convened as a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, per Resolution 69/244 of December 2014. In February 2015, UNGA President Sam Kutesa proposed adjusting the beginning of the Summit to 11:00 am on 25 September, to allow for an address by His Holiness Pope Francis at 9:00 am.

His Holiness Pope Francis will visit the UN on 25 September 2015, and give an address to the UN General Assembly immediately ahead of the official opening of the UN Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda.

General Debate of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 70)

The General Debate of the 70th Session of the General Assembly will take place from 28 September - 6 October 2015. It will follow the 15 September 2015 Opening of the 70th Session of the General Assembly, 25 September 2015 visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, and the 25-27 September 2015 Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Organized as part of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) 2014-2024, the Sixth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development will consider how to operationalize the Hammamet Declaration (signed by the Executive Secretaries of the UN Regional Commissions in support of energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy access). The Forum will also host workshops and training courses on: Energy Efficiency in Buildings; Business Planning for Renewable Energy Investments Projects; Access to Energy in Remote Areas; Energy Portal for Asia-Pacific; and the Energy Efficiency Industry Accelerator. In addition, an expo with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, products and solutions will be organized. The Government of Armenia, UN Regional Commissions, UN Development Programme (UNDP), Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are co-organizing the Forum.

October 2015

ECOSOC Dialogue on the Longer-Term Positioning of the UN Development System - Session 5

This meeting will review progress related to the ECOSOC dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UN Development System and discuss the way forward. The dialogue seeks to inform the outcome of the next UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) - the mechanism through which the UNGA assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of the UN Development system. Based on ECOSOC resolution 2014/14, it also needs to take into account the post-2015 development agenda.

Under the theme, 'Democratizing Global Climate Change Governance and Building an African Consensus toward COP 21 and Beyond,' the Africa Climate Talks (ACT!) are being organized by the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Programme. This series of interconnected sub-regional and Africa-wide events will contribute to Africa's preparation for the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC, engaging Africans from all walks of life. ACT! aims to raise public awareness of climate change, hear perspectives of linkages between climate change issues and Africa's development, and consider the potential implications of COP 21 outcomes for Africa. ACT! for the West, Central and North Africa regions and the West African small island developing States (SIDS) will take place in Dakar, Senegal, on 1-3 October 2015. ClimDev-Africa is a joint Programme of the African Union Commission (AUC), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The conference aims to discuss and identify how to achieve the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on oceans, including how to make the best use of scientific knowledge and put oceans on a sustainable pathway. Participants will also address implementation of the proposed SDG. The Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) in partnership with the US Embassy in France and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO) are organizing the conference.

The Government of South Africa together with the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) and the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) are hosting the South Africa International Renewable Energy Conference (SAIREC), to gather ministers, decision-makers, civil society, academia and the private sector to discuss experiences and strategies for accelerating the global deployment of renewable energy. The event is aimed particularly at giving the African renewable energy industry opportunities to showcase its work and gain insights from other participants. This event will build upon previous "IREC" conferences held in Abu Dhabi (2013), Delhi (2010), Washington D.C (2008), Beijing (2005) and Bonn (2004).

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) will convene this meeting in order to bring together forestry experts and decision-makers from the region. The meeting is one of six region-specific meetings held every two years in support of the FAO Regional Forestry Commissions.

Organized by the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR), the sixth session of the Governing Body (GB) will be preceded by two days of regional consultations. The session will address a series of items related to the operations of the Treaty's Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing, as well as farmers' rights and sustainable use of plant genetic resources.

This workshop will address the challenges of fostering sustainable firewood use for heating and cooking in households of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region. It will provide a platform for exchanging experiences throughout the region on how to improve wood energy applications, and participants will be invited to develop guidance for providing an enabling policy framework to optimize the use of wood as a clean and healthy source of energy for households. The workshop will result in two outcomes: a collection of best practices; and a roadmap for policy makers. Participants will review and discuss the draft documents, which will be provided prior to the workshop. Participants from development agencies, academia, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations addressing heating and cooking are expected to attend the workshop. A parallel exhibition will raise awareness regarding the complexity of, and potential improvement in, firewood use in households, including regarding health and resource efficiency. It will showcase the different aspects of efficient firewood use in households, encouraging people to learn about wood, where its energy is stored, how it is transformed to heat and how to preserve this heat for household use.

The Eye on Earth Summit 2015 will seek to better understand the supply and demand of data necessary to secure the future of our planet. This will be the second Eye on Earth Summit, and will bring together representatives from government, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, academia and civil society to focus on closing the data gap for environmental, social and economic data to address sustainable development. The Summit aims to identify solutions for greater access to and sharing of data, providing policymakers with timely, actionable information for the critical decisions that will implement the post-2015 development agenda. Sessions during the event will explore new resources, like crowd-sourcing and citizen science, and cutting-edge technologies. The Summit is being overseen by Eye on Earth, a collaboration of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency's Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) and the Eye on Earth Alliance, a partnership of organizations including, inter alia, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Resources Institute (WRI).

The GloBallast Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), assists developing countries to reduce the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships' ballast water and implement the IMO Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention. The Research and Development Forum is to discuss an IMO study of the implementation of the ballast water performance standard, and approval and implementation of ballast water management systems.

The first capacity-building forum of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) aims to facilitate both capacity-building projects and strategic alignment of activities between interested institutions. The meeting will promote dialogue among receivers, implementers and funders of capacity-building activities, with the aim of: exploring opportunities for cooperation on aligned investments in capacity-building needs; furthering partnerships for piloting and delivering the IPBES capacity-building program; and planning further action.

The 2015 International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Conference will center on recent research and market developments in bioenergy, including: challenges across bioenergy value chains; and cross-cutting topics, such as environmental sustainability, socioeconomic issues and trade. The conference will include a special session dedicated to industrial developments and applications, which will feature presentations on German developments. In addition to presentations, the event will include opportunities for business-to-business meetings, a social programme, technical field trips, and a poster exhibition. The conference is supported by the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will hold its Ninth Youth Forum, under the theme of 'Young Global Citizens for a Sustainable Planet,' with a special focus on climate change and sustainable development. The Forum, which takes place every two years, will be held as an integral part of the 38th session of the UNESCO General Conference.

The eleventh meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC) of the Rotterdam Convention will be back-to-back with the eleventh meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention (POPRC). The Committee will consider draft decision guidance documents on short-chained chlorinated paraffins and tributyltin compounds. The Committee will also review the notifications of final regulatory action for atrazine, carbofuran and carbosulfan and a proposal for the inclusion of dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate 400 g/L as a severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III to the Convention.

The second meeting of the Inter-agency and Expert Group on the Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) is tentatively set for 26-28 October 2015, as discussed in the Group's first meeting in June 2015.

2nd Meeting of the Negotiating Committee of the Regional Instrument on Principle 10 in the LAC Region

This is the second meeting of the negotiating committee of the regional instrument on access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters (Principle 10 of Rio Declaration in Latin America and Caribbean). The committee is negotiating a regional instrument for LAC for the full implementation of the rights of access to environmental information, participation and justice as set out in Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration. Negotiations are being undertaken based on the work plan for the negotiating committee and based on a Preliminary Document of the Regional Instrument, and are mandated to conclude by 2016, per the Santiago Decision of November 2014.

The 72nd joint session of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) European Forestry Commission as well as the third European Forest Week (Silva2015) will discuss sustainable forest management (SFM) in Europe and the role of sustainable forest industries in the regional economy.

Joint Session of the 38th European Forestry Commission and 72nd UNECE Committee on Forest and Forest Industry

Created in 1947, the European Forestry Commission (EFC) is one of six Regional Forestry Commissions established by FAO to provide a policy and technical forum for countries to discuss and address forest issues on a regional basis. It meets bi-annually. The EFC has a number of associated subsidiary bodies, including the Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds; the UNECE/FAO Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management; and seven UNECE/FAO Teams of Specialists.

ECOSOC Dialogue on Longer-Term Positioning of UN Development System - Retreat 2

This is the second of three retreats to be organized as part of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UN development system. It will discuss interlinkages among issues. The dialogue seeks to inform the outcome of the next UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) - the mechanism through which the UNGA assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of the UN Development system. Based on ECOSOC resolution 2014/14, it needs to take into account the post-2015 development agenda.

The African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago. The 6th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement (AEWA MOP6) will, inter alia, review national reports on the implementation of the Convention.

The seventh session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention will convene in Budapest, Hungary. The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) was adopted in Helsinki in 1992 and entered into force in 1996. Almost all countries sharing transboundary waters in the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) are Parties to the Convention.

Establishment of the International Network of Soil Information Institutions

This proposed network falls under Pillar 4 of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) Action Plan, which focuses on “enhancing the quantity and quality of soil data and information: data collection (generation), analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring and integration with other disciplines”. The network will contribute towards the GSP strategy of ‘Building the global system to monitor and forecast the condition of the Earth's soil resources'.

This event is convening within the context of International PRTR week, and is being convened by the UN Economic Commission for Europe, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, in consultation with the UN International Training and Research Institute and the UN Environment Programme. It is taking place as part of “International PRTR Week”.

This meeting is being organized by the Secretariat of the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (Protocol on PRTRs) to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), and is convening as part of "International PRTR week".

December 2015

World Soil Day 2015

The FAO Conference, in June 2013, unanimously endorsed World Soil Day and requested official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the 68th UN General Assembly declared the 5th of December as World Soil Day. World Soil Day 2015 will focus on the theme 'Soils, a solid ground for life'.

The third annual Global Landscapes Forum will take place on 6 December 2015, in Paris, France, conciding with the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). A successor to past Forest Days and Agriculture and Rural Development Days, the Forum focuses on land use as a key sector for achieving global climate and sustainability goals, and brings together stakeholders from different land-use sectors. In previous years, Global Landscapes Forum coordinating partners have included the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

ECOSOC Dialogue on Longer-Term Positioning of UN Development System - Workshop 5

This is the fifth of seven workshops to be organized as part of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UN development system. It will focus on funding and the funding architecture for the post-2015 development era. The dialogue seeks to inform the outcome of the next UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) - the mechanism through which the UNGA assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of the UN Development system. Based on ECOSOC resolution 2014/14, it needs to take into account the post-2015 development agenda.

The UN Economic Commission for Europe's (UNECE) Committee on Housing and Land Management (CHLM) will hold its 76th session to review its work and discuss issues involving housing, land management and urban development, including standards for energy efficiency in housing, smart cities, and implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Housing and Land Management in the ECE Region for the Period 2014-2020. The session will also agree on CHLM input into HABITAT III, the global Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development.

The 2015 Green Growth and Sustainable Development Forum (GGSD Forum) is organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on the theme of 'Enabling the Next Industrial Revolution: The role of systems thinking and innovation policy in promoting green growth'. The event will discuss how to foster the "next industrial revolution" through policies for systems innovation, drawing on the work of several OECD committees, including the Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP), the Committee on Industry, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), the Environment Policy Committee, the Economic Policy Committee and the Chemicals Committee.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) will convene this meeting to bring together forestry experts and decision-makers from the Near East region. The meeting is one of six region-specific meetings held every two years in support of the FAO Regional Forestry Commissions.

January 2016

28th Session of the North American Forest Commission

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) will convene this meeting to bring together forestry experts and decision-makers from the North American region. The meeting is one of six region-specific meetings held every two years in support of the FAO Regional Forestry Commissions.

The sixth session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly will convene from 16-17 January 2016. The event will consider, among other things, the Agency's work programme for 2016/2017 and review its medium-term strategy.

ECOSOC Dialogue on Longer-Term Positioning of UN Development System - Workshop 6

This is the sixth of seven workshops to be organized as part of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UN development system. It will focus on governance and discuss emerging strategic issues and options. The dialogue seeks to inform the outcome of the next UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) - the mechanism through which the UNGA assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of the UN Development system. Based on ECOSOC resolution 2014/14, it needs to take into account the post-2015 development agenda.

February 2016

African Forestry and Wildlife Commission - 20th Session

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) will convene this meeting in order to bring together forestry experts and decision-makers from the region. The meeting is one of six region-specific meetings held every two years in support of the FAO Regional Forestry Commissions.

The 2016 Session of the ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment will include a discussion on emerging policy issues, within the context of the ECOSOC dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UN Development System. The dialogue seeks to inform the outcome of the next UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) - the mechanism through which the UNGA assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of the UN Development System. Based on ECOSOC Resolution 2014/14, it needs to take into account the post-2015 development agenda.

ECOSOC Dialogue on Longer-Term Positioning of UN Development System - Workshop 7

This is the last of seven workshops to be organized as part of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UN development system. It will focus on capacity, impact, partnership approaches and organizational arrangements. The dialogue seeks to inform the outcome of the next UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) - the mechanism through which the UNGA assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of the UN Development system. Based on ECOSOC resolution 2014/14, it needs to take into account the post-2015 development agenda.

The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Plenary will review progress made on the adopted IPBES work programme for 2014–2018, including the related budget and institutional arrangements for its implementation. It will, in particular, be invited to consider the two first full assessment reports of IPBES on pollination and pollinators associated with food production, and scenarios analysis and modelling of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The reports will be considered for adoption and their respective summary for policymakers will be considered for approval.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) will convene this meeting to bring together forestry experts and decision makers from the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting is one of six region-specific meetings held every two years in support of the FAO Regional Forestry Commissions.

March 2016

Minamata Convention on Mercury INC7

The seventh meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC7) for the Minamata Convention on Mercury is scheduled to convene in Jordan. Regional consultations will take place on 6 March 2016.

The 47th Session of the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC) is expected to agree on the indicator framework and set of indicators for the post-2015 development agenda, among other agenda items. UNSC's Friends of the Chair Group on broader measures of progress (FOC) will prepare and guide discussions on the development and implementation of the framework.

The Ministry of Environment of Peru (MINAM) through its National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (SERNANP) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme are hosting the 4th World Congress to address issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Specifically, the goal is to review implementation of the Madrid Action Plan for Biosphere Reserves 2008-2013, the Seville Strategy and the Statutory Framework of 1995. The Congress will assess lessons learned and new challenges faced by the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, and will develop and launch an Action Plan for Biosphere Reserves for 2016-2025.

April 2016

ECOSOC Dialogue on Longer-Term Positioning of UN Development System - Retreat 3

This is the last of three retreats to be organized as part of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UN development system. The retreat will discuss findings and conclusions related to the areas discussed during the dialogue's process, namely: functions, funding, governance, capacity and impact of the UN development system, partnership approaches and organizational arrangements. The dialogue seeks to inform the outcome of the next UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) - the mechanism through which the UNGA assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of the UN Development system. Based on ECOSOC resolution 2014/14, it needs to take into account the post-2015 development agenda.

May 2016

15th Session of Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The 15th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) will bring Member States and indigenous peoples' representatives together to discuss: implementation of the six mandated areas of the PFII with reference to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); conflict, peace and resolution; and coordination among the three UN mechanisms on indigenous affairs. A dialogue will take place with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The session will also consider the future work of the PFII, and emerging issues.

This conference is expected to lead to major progress in climate change adaptation, and fosters an exchange of innovative and practical ideas, experiences and insights among governments, businesses, researchers and civil society from around the world. The conference will examine and discuss the latest adaptation research, as well as have an Adaptation Practice Expo and Business Fair, which will include stands, matchmaking facilities and signing ceremonies, and showcase cutting edge adaptation projects. The conference programme will address all sectors and geographic regions, with a special focus on urban and coastal areas.? ?Adaptation Futures 2016 is also expected to: strengthen ties between science and practice?; engage communities of practice and build new partnerships;? and link adaptation action to current development, investment and planning decisions.? ?The programme will include plenary and parallel sessions, roundtables, excursions, exhibitions and side events. Adaptation Futures is the biennial conference of the Global Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PROVIA). The European Commission and the Government of the Netherlands will co-host the fourth edition of this conference.

The UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) will convene for the second time in 2016. The UNEA of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) represents the highest level of governance of international environmental affairs in the UN system. The Rio+20 conference agreed in June 2012 to strengthen and upgrade UNEP through measures including universal membership of its Governing Council and ensuring the active participation of all relevant stakeholders. In March 2013, the 67th session of the UN General Assembly changed the designation of the Governing Council of UNEP to become UNEA, reflecting the intention to elevate its status.

Th UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is organising the summit, which aims to set a new agenda for global humanitarian action, focusing on humanitarian effectiveness, reducing vulnerability and managing risk, transformation through innovation, and serving the needs of people in conflict. The summit, the first UN conference of its kind, will bring together the humanitarian community with other actors from the development, peace-building and peacekeeping spheres to work toward a coherent approach in the way humanitarian aid is delivered. Heads of State and Government, and representatives of civil society, the private sector, crisis-affected communities and multilateral organisations will attend the Summit. Preparations are taking place via one global and seven regional meetings, online consultations, and a September 2015 thematic meeting in Berlin, Germany. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is establishing a High-level Panel on Humanitarian Financing to provide recommendations that will help to frame the Summit discussions.

October 2016

Habitat III

The Third UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) aims to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable urban development, assess progress and accomplishments to date, address poverty and identify and address new and emerging challenges. The conference is expected to result in an action-oriented outcome document and the establishment of a ‘New Urban Agenda'.

January 2017

CGRFA 16

The sixteenth regular session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN is expected to address a series of sectoral and cross-sectoral issues of relevance to genetic resources for food and agriculture.

June 2017

Expo 2017: Future Energy

The international Expo 2017 will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, and will aim to promote the most appropriate and viable sustainability-driven action plans to address the possibilities of future energy. The Expo, organized under the theme 'Future Energy' and the sub-theme 'Solutions for Tackling Humankind's Greatest Challenge,' will address future energy from several perspectives, including: exploration of stategies, programmes and technologies for sustainable energy development; promotion of energy security and efficiency; and the encouragement of renewable energy use. Venues for the World's Fairs and their themes are determined by taking into account political, economic, geographical and cultural contexts. The history of World's Fairs extends back to “the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations,” which took place in London in 1851.

The proposed Triennial Oceans and Seas Global Conferences aims to address the fragmentation of ocean governance by providing a central mechanism for bringing together the ocean community to benchmark and assess progress on implementing targets under proposed Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development". The first Conference is expected to address targets related to marine pollution, ecosystems, fisheries, climate change effects and oceans governance. It is expected to be mandated by a resolution of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and feed into the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The Permanent Representative of Fiji outlined plans for the Conferences during a side event on 24 June 2015.

January 2018

Ninth World Urban Forum

The ninth World Urban Forum (WUF9), convened by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), will bring together thousands of stakeholders to share practices and knowledge on how cities are built, planned and managed. WUF9 participants will include representatives of: national, regional and local governments; non-governmental organizations; community-based organizations; research institutions and academies; the private sector; development finance institutions; foundations; the media; and UN organizations and other international agencies. The WUF's key objectives include: advocating for and raising awareness on sustainable urban development; advancing knowledge on sustainable urbanization through debates, and exchange of experiences and best practices; and coordinating and cooperating within and between different constituencies towards advancing and implementing the Habitat Agenda. WUF is the biggest major international event to address human settlements, including rapid urbanization and its impact on cities, communities, economies, climate change and policies. It meets every two years, and participation has increased to around 22,000 attendees from all over the world. WUF9 will be the first Forum to meet after the post-2015 development agenda process and the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Habitat III in 2016.

August 2018

XXVII International Primatological Society Congress

The Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) will gather over 800 of the world's leading primate experts, scientists and researchers at the XXVII International Primatological Society (IPS) Congress. GRASP's bid to host the meeting was built upon the theme, 'Global Connectivity to Ensure the Future of Primates,' and proposes to include Nairobi-based UN experts in areas such as climate change, deforestation, sustainable development, and civil conflict, among others, in IPS symposia, workshops and panels. The event will convene during 2018. The XXVI IPS Congress is scheduled to convene from 21-27 August 2016, in Chicago, Illinois, US.